I've heard various things about this. Some say that you're not required to abstain on Sundays during Lent, while others call it "cheating." As for myself, I used to abstain on Sundays as well, but this year, I decided to not abstain on Sundays.

Also as a note of clarification, this is referring to abstaining from something throughout Lent, not just on Fridays.

Some people find it easier, when giving up something for Lent, to include Sundays. That's ok if you so choose but technically Sunday, the Lord's Day, is not part of Lent (even though it's included as Lent in the liturgical calendar...I know...it gets confusing). Just remember that Sunday is never a day of penance...it's a day of rest.

Sundays are not part of Lent. If you count the days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, inclusive, you will come up with more than 40 days. Subtract the number of Sundays, and you will come up with 40. Computo ergo sum.

Sundays are not part of Lent. If you count the days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, inclusive, you will come up with more than 40 days. Subtract the number of Sundays, and you will come up with 40. Computo ergo sum.

If Sundays are not part of Lent then why is the Gloria omitted during mass and why do the clerics vest in purple?

Lent is the forty day period before Easter, excluding Sundays. You are not required to abstain during the Sundays of Lent. On Sundays, we celebrate when Christ arose from the dead, therefore we are to celebrate, and not to fast and mourn our sins.

Giving up something during the Sundays of the season of Lent (first Sunday of Lent, second Sunday of Lent, etc...) are optional. You are not required to abstain during the Sundays of Lent. It is voluntary.

Choosing to abstain from something during Lent is a personal thing. If you want to skip it on Sunday or Thursday or whatever, it's your choice to make. However, fasting is only one of the traditional practices for Lent. What about prayer and almsgiving? Do you skip them on Sunday as well? :-)

Choosing to abstain from something during Lent is a personal thing. If you want to skip it on Sunday or Thursday or whatever, it's your choice to make. However, fasting is only one of the traditional practices for Lent. What about prayer and almsgiving? Do you skip them on Sunday as well? :-)

Prayer and almsgiving are not to be skipped on Sunday. Remember, Sunday is known as the Lord's Day, and it is an obligation to go to Mass on Sunday

Sundays in Lent are part of Lent, and Lent is indeed more than 40 days long.

They are not, however, penitential days.

In the United States and most other countries we are only required to abstain (from meat) on Fridays during Lent, on Ash Wednesday, and on Good Friday (which technically is part of the Triduum, not Lent).

Other things we do for Lent are optional, and so there is no rule on whether to do them also on Sundays of Lent or not. My own feeling is that one should only abstain from things one has given up for Lent on Sundays if not doing so would render the sacrifice on other days significantly less meaningful.

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But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weakness, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)